Sutures and Wound Repair/ General Surgery (ABSA) Practice Test

Which procedure is often chosen for patients needing bowel rest after a large bowel resection?

1. Colostomy

2. Ileostomy

3. Gastrostomy

4. jejunostomy

The correct answer is: Ileostomy

In the context of needing bowel rest after a large bowel resection, the choice of an ileostomy is particularly relevant. An ileostomy involves creating an opening from the ileum, which is the last part of the small intestine, to the abdominal surface. This allows for the diversion of intestinal contents away from the distal bowel, bypassing the large intestine entirely. After a large bowel resection, there may be a need to minimize the workload on the remaining bowel, especially to allow for healing and recovery. By diverting the fecal stream to an ileostomy, the patient can avoid the complications that might arise from reintroducing material into the remaining bowel too soon. The other options do not serve the same purpose in the context of bowel rest following a large bowel resection. A colostomy, for instance, involves diverting the colon, which is less appropriate in this scenario because it can still lead to remaining bowel content, potentially affecting a healing process. Gastrostomy and jejunostomy procedures are designed for different indications, such as feeding access, rather than bowel rest after resection. Thus, ileostomy stands out as the best choice for promoting bowel rest after such a surgical procedure.